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Deepti Sharma scored an unbeaten 62 from 64 balls in the first ENGWvsINDW ODI to help India chase 259 with ease in Southampton on Wednesday.
India chased down England's total with four wickets in hand. Along with Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues scored an important 48 off 54 for India.
What happened in the match?
India were coming from a historic maiden T20I series win on English soil and as a team looked confident, as the reharshal for the ICC Women's World Cup 2025 continues for them.
India struck early but lost the momentum
Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and decided to bat first. Her decision took a back seat when Kranti Goud dismissed Amy Jones (1) in her first and inning's second over. Soon, Tammy Beaumont (5) became Goud's second hunt in the fourth over of the match.
At 20/2, England needed a partnership, and Emma Lamb and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt provided that for them. A 71-run partnership for the third wicket bailed them out.
India did miss their chances as Smriti Mandhana dropped Nat Sciver-Brunt on 34, but soon England lost Emma Lamb on 39. Sneh Rana came to the rescue for India with the wicket.
Rana again struck for India in the next over as Jemimah Rodrigues took a sharp catch at short midwicket. The England captain went back to the dressing room on 41 from 52 balls.
Dunkley and Davidson-Richards add 106 for the fifth wicket
When India were hoping to keep the hosts under 200, Sophia Dunkley and Alice Davidson-Richards' 106-run partnership poured water on that plan.
Both Alice Davidson-Richards (on 16) and Sophia Dunkley (on 23) were dropped by Goud and Jemimah in consecutive overs to help England build that partnership.
Dunkley went on to complete her 6th WODI fifty while Davidson-Richards scored her second WODI fifty. Davidson-Richards was finally outfoxed by Shree Charani on 53 from 73 as she looked to get going with the run rate.
Sophie Ecclestone gave Dunkley a good hand with an unbeaten 23 from 19 balls. Meantime, Dunkley (83 from 92) was bowled in the last ball of the inning as England scored a modest 258/6 in the first inning.
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Strong start from India, but England struck back
During the chase, India got off to a strong start with the bat, thanks to a solid opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal.
However, India lost Mandhana in the 8th over as Amy Jones took a good catch to dismiss her on 28 from 24 balls.
India lost Rawal (36 from 51) in the 19th over, but till then the run rate had reached close to run-a-ball.
Soon, an inept run from Harleen Deol (27 from 44) put India under more pressure. A casual run out and India her in the 22nd over. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (17 from 27 balls) also returned to the dressing room after Charlie Dean trapped her in front of the wicket.
Deepti and Jemimah add 90 for the fifth wicket for India
But, a 90-run partnership for the fifth wicket bailed India out of the danger.
Jemimah played a solid inning of 48 from 54 balls before perishing against Lauren Filer in the 42nd over. With India needing 45 from 51 balls, Deepti remained calm under pressure to take India over the line.
Amanjot Kaur again proved her all-around skill with an unbeaten 20 from 14 balls.
Kaur hit back-to-back boundaries to seal the match, while Deepti watched from the other end on 62 from 64 balls.
Deepti Sharma was named player of the match for her excellent inning. India now lead the three-match series 1-0. Not to forget India won the WODI series 3-0 last time on English soil. The second ENGWvsINDW WODI will be played at Lord's on 19th July 2025.